In Brief
M. Hariharasudhan owned a hotel in Madurai and sued for damages after R. Karmegam damaged his property and business. The High Court dismissed the suit, holding that the Tamil Nadu Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992 implicitly ousted the civil court's jurisdiction. The Supreme Court reversed this, finding no express or implied bar on civil jurisdiction. Section 14 of the Act preserves concurrent remedies, and Section 7(4) recognises subsequent civil suits. The Court held the Act provides an additional remedy, not a complete substitute for common law damages. The case was remitted for fresh hearing on merits before the High Court.
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